Abu Dhabi came alive with art, culture, and creative harmony as Celebrations Beyond Boundaries, a one-day grand cultural festival curated by ArtsCrafts Abu Dhabi, concluded successfully on 24 January 2026 at the Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi. The event brought together classical dance, visual arts, music, and community participation, culminating in the creation of an internationally recognised 2026 World Record.
The programme was formally inaugurated by Ms. Sathyanandhi G, Third Secretary (Press, Information & Culture), Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi. The closing ceremony and felicitation were graced by Mr. Arpit Jain, First Secretary (Press, Information & Culture), Head of Chancery and Cyber Security Officer, Embassy of India.
The day opened on a deeply spiritual note with a Kathak invocation by Ruby Mathur, performed on the universal sound of Om, offering gratitude to the cosmos and setting a reverent tone. This was followed by a powerful Bharatanatyam presentation by Rashika Ojha, dedicated to Lord Shiva, marked by expressive abhinaya and technical finesse. A special highlight of the morning was a confident violin recital of “Vande Mataram” by seven-year-old Sinjini from Dubai, which received warm applause from the audience.
Historic World Record Achievement
A defining highlight of the event was the successful creation of a Talent Record Book 2026 World Record, titled:
“Maximum Number of Artists Creating Live Artwork During a Continuous Dance Performance.”
The record was officially achieved by Anil Kejriwal, in association with Ruby Mathur, Shereen Abraham, and Khushi Kejriwal, during a specially curated cultural programme at the Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi. The initiative brought together visual artists and classical dancers performing simultaneously in a continuous and uninterrupted format, demonstrating exceptional coordination, endurance, and cross-disciplinary harmony.
The record-setting segment commenced with Kathak exponent Ruby Mathur, who presented an evocative abhinaya on a 14th-century doha by Amir Khusro, followed by a Thumri on Lord Krishna and concluding with Shringaar, a composition by her Guru, Padma Shri Dr. Shovana Narayan. She was followed by 15-year-old Jovia Jose from Dubai, who presented a moving Mohiniyattam Varnam inspired by the Mahabharata, and Aadhya Rahul Nair, a Grade 9 student, who showcased refined Bharatanatyam technique.
The record segment concluded with a performance by Antara–Kavita–Akshara, a unique mother-and-daughters trio, blending Kathak, Bharatanatyam, and Yoga, inspired by Nataraja and Adi Yoga.
Competitions and Cultural Highlights
The celebrations also featured a colourful Rangoli Competition, which began at 9:30 a.m., with eight teams creating rangolis on the theme Celebrations. The winners were:
- First Prize: Prachi, Amruta & Aishwarya
- Second Prize: Aarti & Sadhana
- Third Prize: Pragna, Sailaja & Santhoshi
The broader initiative included an Interschool Art Competition held a week earlier on 17 January, with participation from 16 schools and 42 students. Ten shortlisted artworks were exhibited at the Embassy, with top honours awarded to students from GEMS United Indian School, Asian International School, Al Ruwais & Al Dhannah, and Abu Dhabi Indian School, Muroor Road.
The afternoon segment featured diverse performances, including a Bollywood singing programme coordinated by Bipin Shrivastava and his team, Carnatic vocal music by Poornima Aithal and Sandhya Vishwanathan, Thai dance by the Abu Dhabi Yasothara Thai Dance Group, and energetic performances by Gurucool – House of Talent and We Wake Dance Crew.
Closing Ceremony and Distinguished Guests
The event concluded gracefully with a closing performance by Kathak Guru Kundan Mukherjee, accompanied by his disciple Manasvi Sinha, presenting a Qawwali-inspired composition by Amir Khusro.
The full-day event was attended by approximately 500 participants and visitors, including distinguished guests such as Mr. Ali Shuja Al Afifi, Mr. Eisha, Mr. Vinayak B. Awate (President, IFCA), Mr. Amandeep Singh (Head, Bank of Baroda – Abu Dhabi), Ms. Rakshita Yadav (President, ILA), along with Mr. Diwakar, Mr. Anand Gupta, Mr. Deepak Dash, and representatives from various cultural and business organisations.
The programme was seamlessly coordinated by the core organising committee comprising Shereen Abraham, Madhu Kejriwal, Ruby Mathur, and Khushi Kejriwal, with Riddhi Shah managing the stage during the World Record segment. Dubai International Art Centre (DIAC) served as the Technical Partner and nodal agency for the World Record, with Ms. Sahira Ameen, Centre Manager, DIAC, and Chairperson Ms. Diyali Bhalla providing continuous curatorial support.
Bollywood Treats Restaurant managed the hospitality at the event. Sponsorship support came from Ajmal Steel (Platinum Sponsor), NMC Specialty Hospital (Gold Sponsor), and Bank of Baroda (Silver Sponsor).
Celebrations Beyond Boundaries stood as a powerful testament to the magic of creative arts that transcends borders, uniting cultures, generations, and disciplines on a single inspiring platform.
